Fluidd vs Mainsail Comparison 2022 | 3D Printer Klipper Help

The biggest question everyone has when switching to Klipper firmware is choosing Fluidd or Mainsail as your web page user interface. I made this video to compare their features and layout to help find the best one for you.

They are both great open source projects, and I would recommend supporting them if you can.

I do want to say they are both great options, but I think they each have their strengths for different work flows. I will be sticking with Fluidd because I like the file management on the dashboard. Mainsail on the other hand has major strengths if you access it from your mobile device often. They both have have different sets of features so you have to pick the set that most interests you.

Keep it positive and supportive in the comments, but let us know what you are using and what is your favorite features.

The gear I use:

[NicksStuff]

Care to update us on the Fluidd vs Mainsail situation in 2025?

[johanteekens]

Started with OctoPrint, moved to OctoPrint/Klipper, then moved to Klipper/FLuidd. All were working, but I personally I love the Klipper/FLuidd best for ease of use and robustness. Today, I don't see sufficient benefits in any other product that is worth a migration. Thank for the comparison.

[NemecJiri]

From my point of view, Mainsail has a lot of features, but Fluidd is nicer and better tuned. For example, if I have an error in a config file, Fluidd will immediately pop up the problem, whereas in mainsail I just know I'm connected to moonraker and the problem will be in the klipper and I can download the log. The other reason I kept coming back to fluidd was the collaboration between phone and desktop, in fluidd for example I start calibration of z_offset by command from documentation, then I come to the printer with my phone and see the command history, in mainsal the history starts by loading the page. I have tried 3 times to switch to mainsail and always come back. Oh and there is another possibility, RepetierServer is supposed to have klipper installation support in the latest version.

[Auh]

Oh wow this was posted 10 days ago?! Crazy timing lol. I finally got ahold of a raspberry pi and have been looking into which version of Klipper to use. Great video!

[LX]

I moved from Marlin with Octoprint after a veeery long time not wanting to make changes (except for the firmware). I went with Mainsail, and after watching this video, I will stick with it. All this video is like "Mainsail wins here, but I don't use that feature" :)) The differences aren't worth trying both. I'm glad I couldn't SSH to my octo raspberry to install it over octoprint and stick with that. Bleah. PS: about Klipper, I never knew my printer could move like that and still get perfect prints! <3

[PhilippAndre_]

Very helpful indeed.
Im just about to start my klipper joint journey 👍 now I know which direction to go. Thank you.

[GregsMakerCorner]

Nice video! I really like MainSail and have it on 3 of my machines. I go in between a desktop, mobile device, and screen on the printer. I have never tried Fluidd but it looks good too, and glad to hear that it is being kept going. It's nice to have choices for sure! One thing that I would love to see is a way to auto update klipper on the firmware (where possible via USB, which would depend on your MCU's) from the web interface rather than having to ssh in to recompile and flash. It's always a bummer when you update and can't run your printer because the firmware needs updated.

[marcusd]

It's very confusing when you talk about Moonraker, which is used by both Fluidd and Mainsail. And you could also put labels on the screen showing which is which.

[sygad]

thanks for the video, really in-depth and lots to consider. still new to the whole 3D printing world and videos like this make the informtion soup a little easier to navigate

[corynardin]

That's a very interesting comparison between the two programs.

[MrMrbrown]

This is exactly what I was looking for. I think I'll stick with mainsail for now.

[Socket]

I have both… I’m just now transitioning to Fluidd. I there are a bunch of little things I like better. I’m constantly doing in job tweaks, and the type adjustment boxes are nice. It seems more responsive with Klipper also.

[xxWLYxx]

First time coming to your channel, this was exactly what I was looking for. It's too bad that klipper doesn't have "exclude object" because that's definitely important for me.

[wwklnd]

I'm currently looking into alternatives for klipperising my Ender 3, and I have to say I'm leaning strongly in favour of Fluidd just because they offer a first party Docker install option and I would like to run the client on my home server rather than a Pi.

[smeeegheeeed]

Great video, thanks for sharing. Going to try out Fluidd now :)

[MisterkeTube]

Why choose? I have both installed in parallel. You can use both of them at the same time for the same printer as they are just GUI front-ends for Moonraker.

[roysigurdkarlsbakk]

Thanks for this one, but it seems like you really tell us that mainsail is better than fluidd, but that you've gotten more used to working with fluidd and keep on using it ;)

[modmike]

Very detailed. I run Fluidd, tried Mainsail but went back.

[ZeonsZone]

Great video and plenty of food for thought. On my ender 3v2 with bltouch I started with octo print and got it working, then tried octo klipper, but could not get it to function properly, then it was suggested to go with fluidd or mainsail but now, they dont work correctly and fluidd/klipper cant be loaded.
Only Octokilpper will load but the klipper functions dont work and all I can do is watch my print, see time remaining and force cancel a print.
I mainly wanted to be able to A: view my prints (mainly) and do timelapse recording B: See my prints/print info remotely from a cell phone. C: utilize software that can detect issues durring a print then pause and or stop the print before it gets worse and turn off the printer once the print is done to save power. D: software to analyze my print to tune better for later prints or have it auto tune to get consistsnt good results.
In the world of plugins and programs is this possible without having to re-write all the code and become a software engineer or can one or a mix be used to do so? Want to do so on my ender 3 v2 first and then later with the voron 2.4R2 once its built. A point in the right direction would be wonderful.

[victormoreira]

Nice simple and clear. Exactly what I needed to see in order to allow me to choose. Keep up... :)